University of Missouri
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#7 Kansas
Head Coach Quin Snyder
3/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2005
Missouri Head Coach: Quin Snyder
Kansas Post Game Quotes
3/6/05
Opening Statement:
"Obviously that was a great win for our club, in particular the way that we did it. We talked all year long about our defensive identity. I think that's where we won the game. Kansas is a great team. They are obviously one of the top teams in the country. They will go a long way in the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament. I think it was an important win for our kids and what we are building for our program. To get a win like that in the circumstances, some of the things that I think we've gone through this year, some of the ups and downs, to be able to put 40 minutes together like that, except for the two minutes where we handed them the ball a couple of times, all in all a very consistent game."
When KU ties the game:
"I think that is one of the things where we've grown. There have been times this year where we've had kind of capitulated, given into the frustrations and emotions and we've learned from that. Regardless of whether we ended up winning or losing the game, I don't feel like our team really ate itself. We really stayed together. We didn't have a stretch where we didn't have to overcome some mistakes, and we gave them the shots that got them back in the game, or transition opportunities that we allowed them off our poor passing here or there, but we didn't carry those plays with us. We got to the next play. I think the guys kept their pose. We see zone and we're not real comfortable at times, but we did a good job of keeping our pose and getting the ball in the right place and starting to attack the zone."
On Junior Guard Jimmy McKinney:
"As a coach you live for the opportunities to coach guys like Jimmy because of the type of young man he is. There's no secret that Jimmy hasn't had a great year, people talk about it, we've talked about it, and Jimmy and I have talked about it, what can we do to help get you going, and I think sometimes for him he wants it too badly and he's hanging on too tight. I told him I wanted to see him smile out there, we've talked about making every possession like you're out there on the playground or an open gym and it's game point and if you lose you have to sit out for another hour and if you win you get to stay on, and I think Jimmy played with a sense of freedom that he hasn't always had this year."
On McKinney playing like he did in high school:
"The player I recruited is the guy that every team in the country would want on their team. I don't think Jimmy has always been as aggressive offensively and we've talked about it. I want him to shoot more, give him a wristband that says score. Sometimes he wants to please you so badly and not make a mistake, and it's hard to play that way. It's a process. It's not a sprint, it's a long haul. There are so many ways he has grown as a player and a young man. He's first team all academic Big 12, and I'll take that over a jump shot any day."
On Kansas' zone defense:
"The baseline is where you need to try to attack and we tried to spread the floor. When we've run plays against the zone, we've tried to attack it a lot of different ways. Sometimes for our guys it becomes more mental than anything. We get a little tentative and you can see it in our faces. We were just trying to space the floor and cut and extend the zone to give us an opportunity to flash in there in the middle. The problem for us a lot of times is even when we get there the work is not over because there are usually three or four guys that are there with you. Kleiza put it down one time on the floor and they took it, but he did a good job of really making sure to catch it and getting fouled in there. The biggest thing we can do is drive the ball against the zone."
On the games influence on the season:
"Maybe I'm not dramatic enough, but I didn't feel that way. For me this is really about staying committed to a process with this team. It's a new team. You have to be consistent with your commitment and the things you're teaching. Sometimes that's really hard, especially when you are not winning as many games as you want to win. To see our crowd today was just unbelievable. The students were phenomenal, and the entire building was, and to me that says a lot about what our guys are doing. We haven't been perfect and no body wants to do better more than they do and than I do, but I think we've got some character on our team. I don't think we are there yet, but I think we are making progress. Unfortunately, to make that kind of progress, you go through a lot of adversity and we certainly had our share on that."
Missouri 72, Kansas 68
March 6, 2005
Missouri sophomore Thomas Gardner:
On playing against the Kansas seniors:
"I'm always motivated to play against them. I thought this could be my last time play against them since they were seniors. So I really wanted to go out and prove a point."
On the team coming together:
"This is the team we really wanted to be all season. I wouldn't say that we have figured it out right now. This is just one game, it's a step for us. We really have to prepare this week for the Big 12's and get ready for Nebraska on Thursday."
On playing with energy:
"We knew we had to play with energy. Our team plays a lot better when we're energetic both offensively and defensively."
On their motivation for the game:
"Coach came in and wrote the word `Believe' on the board. He said that we have to believe in ourselves and believe that we were going to beat them and that's something that we went out there and focused on and we pulled it off."
On the win:
"It was a good win for us. We've been looking forward to it all year. It's a big game not only for us, but for our community and school as well. We were able to come out and execute and get a win and hopefully we can continue that in the Big 12 Tournament."
Missouri junior Jimmy McKinney:
On stepping up his performance:
"I don't feel that I had to step up, I just thought I was going to play. Whatever happens happens. Coach has been talking to me all week and telling me that when I go out there and play I think too much. Coach Q has been telling me to just go out there and shoot the ball and have fun and be comfortable and attack. That's how I played today. I was just in attack mode, but I also wanted to get my teammates the ball."
On this being the biggest win of the season:
"No, I wouldn't say that. We've won some big games, but it's been a tough road for us. You can't forget about Gonzaga and Oklahoma, those were both great teams. This was probably one of the most fun games just because of the rivalry between Missouri and Kansas. So it was a great game for us."
On the seniors:
"Brian Dailey and Jason Conley put so much into this team and they've given up a lot. They've sacrificed a lot for this team. I appreciate them for that and we've had fun playing with them, but it's not over yet. We still have a lot of games to be played with them, but today was a special day for them."
On the impact of today's win:
"Today was a good win for us, not just because of the atmosphere and the fans. It was a big lift for us because we're going into the Big 12 Tournament with a lot of confidence and a lot of desire and a belief that we can win. I always thought all along, I've kept my faith, I've kept my pride, and we just had to find the fun in the game again. Today we did that."
